Nokia C12 was launched by the company as a new entry-level C series smartphone on Wednesday. The handset is said to be the successor to the Nokia C10 that debuted in 2021. The Nokia C12 sports a 6.3-inch HD+ display with a waterdrop-style notch that houses a 5-megapixel selfie camera. The rear panel sports a metallic pattern with a 3D pattern for improved grip. The company also claims that the Nokia C12 offers improved durability against dust, moisture, and accidental drops compared to previous Nokia C series handsets.
Nokia C12 price, availability
The Nokia C12 price is set at EUR 119 (roughly Rs. 10,500) and the phone will be sold in a single 2GB + 64GB storage configuration. The handset is available in Charcoal, Dark Cyan, and Light Mint colours.
The company says the Nokia C12 will soon be available in Germany and Austria, followed by other European countries. However, Nokia is yet to make an announcement regarding the handset's availability in other markets, including India.
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Nokia C12 specifications, features
This smartphone features a 6.3-inch HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by an octa-core Unisoc 9863A1 SoC, paired with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The Nokia C12 runs on Android 12 (Go Edition) with less bloatware, along with the latest security and privacy features. The company has also promised to deliver up to 2 years of quarterly security updates for this smartphone.
The Nokia C12 is equipped with an 8-megapixel fixed-focus rear camera with an LED flash. It also sports a 5-megapixel fixed-focus camera on the front. The handset offers imaging features like night mode, portrait mode, auto HDR, and timelapse.
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It packs a 3,000mAh removable battery with support for 5W wired charging. The Nokia C12 supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.2. Other connectivity options include a Micro-USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. This Nokia smartphone has an IP52 rating for dust and water resistance. It measures 160.6x74.3x8.75mm and weighs about 177.4g, as per the company.
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Nokia C12 With 6.3-Inch HD+ Display, 3,000mAh Battery Launched: Price, Specifications

Netflix is bringing at least 49 new movies to its 2023 slate, which includes Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon, Millie Bobby Brown-led Damsel, Murder Mystery 2, Extraction 2, and David Fincher's latest project after the Oscar-nominated Mank, The Killer. Among that list, there are only two Indian originals for now, starting with the sports biopic Chakda ‘Xpress. In it, Anushka Sharma plays a dramatised portrait of Jhulan Goswami, the former Indian team captain, who played a pivotal role in getting women's cricket its needed recognition. There is also Zoya Akhtar's 1960s-set The Archies musical drama, which takes beloved characters from the comics and adds an Anglo-Indian spin. Neither of the two Indian originals have a definite release date, as of now.
Coming to Hollywood fare, Snyder leads the pack with his space opera, Rebel Moon, which centres around a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy, that finds itself threatened by armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius. A young woman named Kora (Sofia Boutella) is then dispatched to seek out warriors from neighbouring planets to help them take a stand. Rebel Moon is slated to drop December 22 on Netflix. A month prior to that marks Fincher's return to the crime/ serial killer genre —after pausing Mindhunter — in a twisted odyssey starring Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton as leads. Based on the French graphic novel series by Alexis Nolent, it follows a nameless methodical assassin, who after years of experience, begins to crack and suffer a psychological crisis. The Killer releases November 10.
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Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) stars in Damsel, which aims to subvert the “damsel in distress” trope, with the heroine being thrown into a cave with a fire-breathing dragon, urging her to rely on her wits and will to survive. Damsel also stars the award-winning Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever), and drops October 13 on Netflix. Adam Sandler has three Netflix entries this year, kicking the year off with the Murder Mystery sequel on March 31. Reuniting with Jennifer Aniston as the Spitz couple — now, full-time detectives — they now find themselves amidst an international abduction involving a Maharaja. Meanwhile, Spaceman is set for an autumn release, wherein an astronaut tasked with collecting mysterious ancient dust finds his earthy life falling into pieces. In addition to Sandler, the film stars an ensemble cast including Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), Paul Dano (The Batman), Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory), and Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet). He also voices an adorable pet Lizard in Leo, an animated musical comedy that scuttles onto Netflix on November 22.
From the Korean side, we've got the Sang-ho Yeon (Train to Busan) directed Jung_E. Set on an uninhabitable 2194 Earth, the outcome of a civil war depends on cloning the brain of an elite soldier to create an AI robot mercenary. Jung_E releases this Friday, January 20. Later in the American Spring season, we've got Kill Boksoon, which follows a middle-aged woman's (Jeon Do-yeon) double life, as she switches between her responsibilities as a mother and a professional serial killer. Beyond that, we have Wes Anderson's untitled adaptation of the Roald Dahl stories, a sequel to Chicken Run, and an animated adaptation of the Chinese myth The Monkey King. As of yet, neither of them has a release date.
Sofia Boutella as Kora in a still from Rebel Moon
Photo Credit: Netflix
List of Netflix original films in 2023
With that, here's the full list of movies gracing Netflix in 2023. We've marked the non-English language releases with an asterisk:
January
Dog Gone — January 13
Jung_E — January 20 *
You People — January 27
Pamela, a love story
February
True Spirit — February 3
Bill Russell: Legend — February 8
Your Place or Mine — February 10
We Have a Ghost — February 24
March
Luther: The Fallen Sun — March 10
The Magician's Elephant — March 17
Murder Mystery 2 — March 31
April
A Tourists Guide to Love — April 27
May
The Mother — May 12
June
Extraction 2 — June 16
July
They Cloned Tyrone — July 21
August
Heart of Stone — August 11
Lift — August 25
October
Damsel — October 13
Pain Hustlers — October 27
November
The Killer — November 10
A Family Affair — November 17
Leo — November 22
December
Leave the World Behind — December 8
Rebel Moon — December 22
Across 2023 — no solid release date
The Archies *
Best. Christmas. Ever!
Carga Máxima (Overhaul) *
Chakda ‘Xpress *
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Chupa
Choose Love
The Deepest Breath
Happiness for Beginners
Kill Boksoon *
Love at First Sight
Maestro
Monkey Man
The Monkey King
Nimona
Nyad
The Out-Laws
The Perfect Find
Players
Reptile
Rustin
Shirley
Spaceman
Untitled Wes Anderson/Roald Dahl Film
Victim/Suspect
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Netflix Unveils 2023 Movie Slate with 49 Titles: The Full List

Realme GT Neo 5 is reportedly in development and is expected to go official in February during the Mobile World Congress (MWC 2023). Ahead of the formal debut, the handset has surfaced on benchmarking website Geekbench, hinting at its key specifications. The Realme GT Neo 5 could be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. SoC and the handset may run on Android 13 out-of-the-box. The Geekbench listing suggests that it could be equipped with 16GB of RAM.
A listing for the purported handset on Geekbench, spotted by 91Mobiles, shows a Realme phone with model number RMX3708. This model number is associated with the Realme GT Neo 5, as per TENAA certification website listings that previously surfaced online. As per the Geekbench listing, the phone will run on Android 13 and an octa-core chipset with the codename 'taro' will power the phone. It shows a prime CPU core with a maximum clock speed of 3.0GHz, three cores capped at 2.50GHz and four cores with a maximum speed of 1.79GHz. All these details hint at the presence of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset on the upcoming Realme GT Neo 5.
The listing further shows that the phone would have 14.86GB of memory. This could translate to 16GB RAM on paper. As per the listing, Realme GT Neo 5 has scored 1,279 points in single-core testing and 3,902 points in multi-core testing. The listing is dated January 19.
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The Realme GT Neo 5 is tipped to arrive in two variants with different battery capacities — 4,600mAh with 240W fast charging and a 5,000mAh battery with 150W fast charging. Both variants had appeared on TENAA with model numbers RMX3706 and RMX3708. It could be released in February during MWC 2023. The upcoming handset could succeed the Realme GT Neo 3 that was launched last year.
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As per past leaks, the Realme GT Neo 5 will feature a 6.74-inch OLED display with a full-HD+ (1,240x2,722 pixels) resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate. It is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. It is said to carry a triple rear camera setup, comprising a 50-megapixel Sony IMX90 primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. It is tipped to come with a 16-megapixel selfie sensor as well.
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Realme GT Neo 5 With Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC Surfaces on Geekbench Ahead of Debut: Report

That ‘90s Show, the sequel to the popular series That ‘70s Show, is now streaming on Netflix in India and globally. The first season of the new show has been released with all 10 episodes already available to stream on the service. The new series takes place two decades after the original show, which aired from 1998 to 2006 for eight seasons, and had an episode count of 200. Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith, who played Kitty and Red Forman in That ‘70s Show, reprise their roles as the caretakers of a new bunch of teenagers spending time in their basement, as before.
The sitcom focuses on a new lead character Leia Forman, played by Callie Haverda. The daughter of original characters Eric Forman (Topher Grace) and Donna Pinciotti (Laura Prepon), Leia visits her paternal grandparents Kitty and Red Forman in the summer of 1995. Initially planning to stay for a few days, she chooses to extend her visit to Point Place, Wisconsin for the rest of the summer, while her grandparents are happy to play host — and caretakers — to a fresh new bunch of teenagers, just like in That ‘70s Show.
The show also features Jay Kelso (Mace Coronel), who is the son of original characters Michael Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) and Jackie Burkhart (Mila Kunis). Other characters in the show include Gwen Runck (Ashley Aufderheide), Nate Runck (Maxwell Acee Donovan), Ozzie (Reyn Doi), and Nikki (Sam Morelos). That ‘90s Show also features guest appearances from original characters, played by cast members from the original series, including Topher Grace, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Laura Prepon, Wilmer Valderrama, Tommy Chong, and Don Stark.
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This isn't the first time Netflix has attempted to resurrect an old favourite show from decades ago; an earlier example is Fuller House, which released in 2016 and is the sequel to Full House, which ran from 1987 to 1995. With That ‘90s Show, Netflix will hope to appeal to nostalgic fans of the older series, which built the careers of many of its original cast including Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.
The Chromecast with Google TV that runs on Android TV is here. When will Google learn how to name products? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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That '90s Show, Sequel to Popular Series That ‘70s Show, Now Streaming on Netflix: Details

After almost four days of seeing constant profits, most cryptocurrencies opened with losses on Thursday, January 19. Bitcoin recorded a value drop of 2.68 percent and opened trading at the price point of $20,750 (roughly Rs. 16.8 lakh) today. This has been Bitcoin's lowest value so far in the last five days on both national as well as foreign exchanges like Coinbase and Binance among others. In fact, in the last 24 hours itself, the price of BTC has dropped substantially by $451 (roughly Rs. 36,665).
Ether followed Bitcoin into the loss train. With a price drop of 4.33 percent, ETH stepped into the trading arena at the value point of $1,523 (roughly Rs. 1.23 lakh). The second most valuable crypto asset fell by $58 (roughly Rs. 4,715).
Tether, USD Coin, Ripple, and Binance USD — popular stablecoins — settled with losses. These were further joined by other popular altcoins including Cardano, Polygon, Solana, Polkadot, and Litecoin.
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The prices of both meme coins Shiba Inu and Dogecoin also cascaded down the price ladder.
The overall crypto market valuation tumbled by 2.7 percent in the last one day. As per CoinMarketCap, the crypto market cap stands at $969 billion (roughly Rs. 78,78,211 crore).
Only a countable number of cryptocurrencies reeled-in profits today. These include Dash, Circuits of Value, and Flex.
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Despite today's market fluctuation, industry experts have kept their focus on the silver linings. “The global crypto market cap increased by 16.10 percent in the past seven days. The recent price rally of Bitcoin led to nearly $500 million (roughly Rs. 4,068 crore) in shorts liquidating in the past week to mark the highest such levels since October 2022. Additionally, the number of daily transactions recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain jumped to nearly 300,000, its highest level since April 2021,” the CoinDCX research team told Gadgets 360.
In the later parts of the year, more decentralised applications (dApps) are expected to enter the Web3 market.
“Ethereum on-chain activity shows an increase in the number of smart contracts deployed on the Ethereum mainnet, which grew 293 percent as compared to 2021. Additionally, the deployment of smart contracts on Ethereum's Goerli testnet grew 187 percent over the last three months of 2022 — and as much as 721 percent year-to-year — to reach an all-time high of 2.7 million and signal that more decentralised applications may enter the market in the future,” the CoinDCX team added.
Will crypto tax hurt the industry in India? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
Cryptocurrency is an unregulated digital currency, not a legal tender and subject to market risks. The information provided in the article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, trading advice or any other advice or recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by NDTV. NDTV shall not be responsible for any loss arising from any investment based on any perceived recommendation, forecast or any other information contained in the article.
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Bitcoin Drops to $20,000 Price Point After Days of Rallying, Losses Hit Most Altcoins

Twitter plans to lay off 50 workers in the social media site's product division in the coming weeks, news site Insider reported on Wednesday, citing two people familiar with the company.
The layoffs, which come six weeks after top boss Elon Musk reportedly told staff that there would not be further retrenchment, could reduce the company's headcount to under 2,000, according to the report.
Twitter did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
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Musk took over Twitter in October and swiftly moved through a number of product and organizational changes. The company rolled out Twitter-verified Blue check-mark as a paid service and also laid off about 50 percent staff.
Musk had said in November that Twitter was facing "a massive drop in revenue" as advertisers dropped out.
Twitter's revenue for the fourth quarter fell about 35 percent to $1.025 billion (roughly Rs. 8300 crore), a top ad executive revealed at a staff meeting, online publication the Information reported on Wednesday.
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Staff cuts so far, which also included employees working in the content moderation division, have stoked fears of a surge in hate speech on the platform. In November, Musk sacked the entire Ethical AI team at Twitter. Additionally, over 200 employees across engineering, sales and marketing, and communications teams in India were affected as part of mass layoffs at the company.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
Is 2023 the year when you should finally buy a foldable phone? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Twitter to Lay Off 50 More Workers After Elon Musk Told Staff There Would Be No Further Job Cuts: Report

Tecno Phantom Vision V, the high-end foldable handset said to be in development by the Chinese smartphone brand, could reportedly be launched in the future. The handset is yet to be officially confirmed by the company owned by Transsion Holdings, but some high-resolution concept renders and a video of the phone have leaked online, showing a new rollable sliding screen. The purported Tecno Phantom Vision V handset looks like a smartphone when folded, but expands to offer a tablet-sized display.
The concept renders and video of the alleged Tecno Phantom Vision V foldable smartphone were shared by GSMArena, showing off the front and rear panel of the purported handset. As per the leaked images, it has a foldable display with a centrally positioned hole-punch cutout to house the selfie camera. The phone appears to be equipped with a triple rear camera setup. Below the camera unit, the handset is shown to have a small display known as a reverse-side back cover that shows notifications, reminders, and an always-on display clock.
The renders show the Techno Phantom Vision V with rounded corners and a large inner display. It is shown to have a similar design language to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 and Vivo X Fold+. As previously mentioned, it looks like a smartphone when folded and can be "expanded" to medium-size tablet.
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According to the report, the inner display of the Techno Phantom Vision V can be further expanded up to 10.1 inches by rolling it out. The display reportedly comprises 11 functional layers and the smartphone has an "aerospace-grade" titanium body. It is seen with almost no crease, but it is worth noting that these are leaked concept renders of the device.
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Tecno has not shared any information on the Tecno Phantom Vision V. However, it is expected to take on foldable phones released last year, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, Oppo Find N and Motorola Razr 2022, as per the report.
Is 2023 the year when you should finally buy a foldable phone? We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Tecno Phantom Vision V Foldable Phone Concept Renders Hint at Tablet-Like Display, Triple Rear Cameras

Apple has all but confirmed the release date for its iOS 16.3 update. The latest iOS version 16.3 should become available to iPhone users starting next week. The dates were hinted at in a press release by Apple announcing their celebrations for Black History Month in February. The inclusivity initiatives include a new Unity-themed wallpaper and watch face for iPhone and Apple Watch models, respectively. The company's press release notes that the Unity-themed aesthetics require iPhones running on iOS 16.3 and Apple Watches running on watchOS 9.3, hinting that iOS 16.3 and watchOS 9.3 updates could be available by next week.
According to the press release by the Cupertino, California-based tech giant, Apple will celebrate 'Black History Month' in February through a host of initiatives that include exclusive content and curated launches centred around Black culture and community. Apple has released a special-edition Apple Watch Black Unity Sport Loop, coupled with a matching wallpaper for iPhones, and a watch face for Apple Watches. The initiative will also spotlight the Black community on the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV app, Apple Fitness+, Apple News, Apple Podcasts, Apple Books, and Apple Maps.
In order for the Unity-themed aesthetics to be accessed users need to update their iPhones to iOS 16.3 and Apple Watches to watchOS 9.3, the press release confirmed. However, these OS versions are currently still in Beta. Yet, Apple seems to be confirming that fully stable versions of iOS 16.3 and watchOS 9.3 will be available to users by next week.
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iOS 16.3 is also set to introduce Security Keys for Apple ID, which will allow users to use a physical hardware security key as part of a two-factor authentication process to secure their Apple ID. The latest OS for iPhones will also change the way Emergency SOS works, with the device waiting until SOS buttons are released even after the countdown to call emergency services. iOS 16.3 is also expected to include a guide on how to use the Handoff feature for HomePod owners. The feature allows users to transfer music from iPhone to HomePods easily.
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The latest iOS update is expected to include minimal changes and new features. It is important to note that, Apple has not provided an exact date for the release of the stable iOS 16.3, or watchOS 9.3, as yet.
Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company's latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Apple Could Roll Out iOS 16.3, watchOS 9.3 Updates for iPhone, Apple Watch Users Next Week: All Details

Twitter said on Wednesday it was offering an annual plan for its subscription service called Twitter Blue, which includes its sought-after "verified" badge, at a discount to its monthly price.
Users can subscribe to the service for an annual price of $84, instead of a monthly subscription price of $8 on the web and $11 on Apple devices.
The discount would be available in countries including United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, New Zealand and Australia, Twitter said.
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Since billionaire Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter for $44 billion last year, he has brought changes to the company including new subscription plans for Twitter Blue.
The blue check mark was previously reserved for verified accounts of politicians, famous personalities, journalists and other public figures. But a subscription option, open to anyone prepared to pay, was rolled out last year to help Twitter grow revenue as Musk fights to retain advertisers.
Earlier in December, Musk stated that Twitter's Basic blue tick will have half the number of advertisements and the social media platform will offer a higher tier with no advertisements by next year.
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Musk had also stated that Twitter would restrict voting on policy-related polls to paying Twitter Blue subscribers, on the same day that users voted decisively in a poll for him to step down as chief executive of the social media platform.
Twitter's CEO had claimed he would abide by the results of the poll, but did not give details on when he would step down if the results said he should. He has not yet named a successor for the role.
Since taking over in October, Musk swiftly fired top management and thousands of employees, seesawed on how much to charge for the social media firm's subscription service Twitter Blue, and reinstated accounts banned under the previous management, including that of former US President Donald Trump.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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Twitter Blue Annual Subscription With Blue Check Mark at Discounted Price Rolled Out in Select Countries

Returnal is headed to PC next month, and with that, Sony has unveiled new features and system requirements for the upcoming port. Developer Housemarque and porter Climax Studios have partnered to bring the once PS5-exclusive roguelike to PC on February 15. Returnal on PC comes with support for Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR upscaling techniques, in addition to DualSense compatibility, ensuring haptic feedback when ripping through the haunting alien planets in the game. Returnal is now available to pre-order on Steam and the Epic Games Store at Rs. 3,999.
Returnal PC new features
Akin to past PlayStation–PC ports, Returnal boasts a slew of enhancements and customisable settings. To begin, the aforementioned Nvidia and AMD's upscaling methods should allow players to dial up their framerate without making sacrifices in the resolution and/or visual quality. Being a third-person, bullet hell roguelike, Returnal is littered with tonnes of moving objects that could heavily stress your GPU — making this feature quite significant. Additionally, support for NIS (Nvidia Image Scaling) has also been added for players who desire better performance, but don't have the hardware to support DLSS or FSR.
Returnal also derives ray-traced shadows from its original PS5 kin. However, in the PC version, co-developer Climax Studios has added support for ray-traced reflections as well. “This will make the contrast of a dark setting and neon bullets pop out even more than before,” the PlayStation blog notes. Returnal on PC will also enable unlocked framerates, support for ultra-wide monitors ranging between 21:9 and 32:9 aspect ratios, and performance metrics — FPS counter, a gauge for measuring GPU and CPU usage, and a latency tracker.
All of this comes packaged with Dolby Atmos Audio, which extends its auditory flair to plugged-in DualSense controllers. As expected, support for keyboard and mouse controls is included as well, with a wide range of customisation options to tailor your needs. Returnal PC will also feature an FOV (field-of-view) slider, which helps adjust how much of your surroundings can be seen on screen.
As for co-op mode, Housemarque has stressed that cross-play with players on the PS5 console is not supported.
Returnal PC system requirements
The PC system requirements list comes courtesy of PlayStation, with the common requirements being Windows 10 64-bit (version 1903) and at least 60GB of free storage space on an SSD.
Returnal ‘minimum' PC requirements
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5-6400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Graphics (GPU): Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Resolution: 1,280x720 pixels at 60fps, at Low settings
Returnal ‘medium' PC requirements
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Graphics (GPU): Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Resolution: 1,920x1,080 pixels at 60fps, at Medium settings
Returnal ‘recommended' PC requirements
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
Graphics (GPU): Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
RAM: 16GB DDR4
Resolution: 1,920x1,080 pixels at 60fps, at High settings
Returnal ‘epic' PC requirements
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Graphics (GPU): Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
RAM: 32GB DDR4
Resolution: 4K at 60fps, at Epic settings
Returnal ‘ray tracing' PC requirements
Processor (CPU): Intel Core i9-11900K or AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
Graphics (GPU): Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT
RAM: 32GB DDR4
Resolution: 4K at 60fps, at Epic settings — upscaling options are recommended
Returnal PC pre-order price and bonuses
Pre-orders for the PC version of Returnal are now live, offering early access to some in-game items. The tools are otherwise obtainable through story progression, with the pre-order bonus simply giving players a headstart — akin to what you would expect from a New Game+ mode. The included items are an Electropylon Driver weapon, a Hollowseeker weapon, one Reflex Stimulant, one Pulsating Mass artefact, and one Adrenaline Booster. Additionally, linking your Steam account to PSN (PlayStation Network) unlocks two in-game outfits — a Prototype and a Tactical suit.
As stated above, Returnal costs Rs. 3,999 across Steam and Epic Games Store. There's only one edition for this game, and it launches February 15 on PC.
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From Elden Ring to BGMI's ban, 2022 gave us a lot in the gaming space. We discuss it all on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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Returnal PC Release Date Set for February 15, System Requirements Revealed

Chinese games publisher NetEase said on Wednesday it has rejected a proposal from Activision Blizzard to extend their long-time partnership for six months, as the US game developer looks for a new partner. NetEase said the proposal was “commercially illogical” and accused the US firm of “seeking a divorce but still remaining attached,” in a rare public display of acrimony between the two gaming giants. Blizzard said in November that it would end its 14-year partnership with NetEase — sending shockwaves across the industry, as the partnership was widely seen as one of the most lucrative in video games.
The companies had been unable to agree on key terms of cooperation, and hits such as World of Warcraft will not be available in China, the world's largest gaming market, from January 23.
NetEase said Blizzard reached out last week with an offer to extend the partnership for six months but also made it clear that it would not stop negotiating with other potential partners.
“Considering the non-reciprocity, unfairness, and other strict conditions attached to the cooperation, the parties could not reach an agreement in the end,” China's second-largest gaming company said in a statement.
The exact sticking points that soured the deal, which started in 2008 and was renewed in 2019, remain unclear.
A person close to Blizzard said the dispute that scuttled the renewal revolved around commercial terms rather than data issues as some media had reported.
The person, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue, said NetEase had proposed to make structural changes to the partnership that would affect Blizzard's control over its intellectual property (IP).
In its statement, late on Tuesday, NetEase said it had never requested control over IP from Blizzard or any other partners as a publishing company over the past 14 years.
“Any usage and licensing of Blizzard's IP were done in accordance with contract terms and with Blizzard's consent and approval,” it said.
Activision Blizzard did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
With the demise of their partnership, Blizzard is currently without a Chinese publisher. Unlike other countries, foreign gaming companies typically need a Chinese publisher before they can release games in China.
NetEase rose to become a gaming giant partly by publishing Blizzard's games in China. It has since accelerated its own game development capability, with in-house games now accounting for more than 60 percent of revenue.
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© Thomson Reuters 2023
From Elden Ring to BGMI's ban, 2022 gave us a lot in the gaming space. We discuss it all on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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NetEase Declines Activision Blizzard’s Offer to Extend Partnership for Publishing in China

Music streaming service Spotify, along with other media firms such as Deezer, urged the European Commission to take action against Apple for anticompetitive and unfair practices, in a joint industry letter on Wednesday.
The letter, addressed to the European Union antitrust regulator's Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, demanded the Commission to act fast for the welfare of European consumers.
Spotify has for years accused Apple of abusing its market position using its App Store rules to stifle competition.
Spotify Needs to Profit From a Music Revolution
It has previously submitted antitrust complaints against Apple in various countries, alleging the 30 percent charge Apple requires developers to pay on its App Store has forced Spotify to "artificially inflate" its own prices.
"We are writing to you to call for swift and decisive action by the European Commission against anticompetitive and unfair practices by certain global digital gatekeepers, and Apple in particular," read the letter, which was signed by chief executives of media firms Schibsted, Proton and Basecamp.
Spotify's Chief Executive Daniel Ek had previously said the iPhone maker "gives itself every advantage while at the same time stifling innovation and hurting consumers".
Google Teams Up With Spotify to Make Music on Android Better: Here’s How
Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Last month, Ek renewed his attack on Apple in a series of tweets alleging the iPhone maker "gives itself every advantage while at the same time stifling innovation and hurting consumers". He had tagged a number of sympathetic business leaders in his 21-tweet thread, including Musk, Microsoft president Brad Smith, and Proton founder Andy Yen.
"So how much longer will we look away from this threat to the future of the internet? How many more consumers will be denied choice? There's been a lot of talk. Talk is helpful but we need action," Ek had tweeted.
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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Spotify and Other Media Firms Ask EU to Take Action Against Apple's 'Unfair' App Store Practices

Apple TV+ has announced its film and original series slate for the first half of 2023, with notable titles on the list including Ted Lasso, which returns for a third season in Spring 2023. The streaming service from Apple has also released a single teaser image for the upcoming season, featuring titular character Ted (Jason Sudeikis) facing off against his apprentice-turned-adversary Nate (Nick Mohammed), which will likely be the key theme of the upcoming season. The new season does not have a firm release date for now, but could likely release in March or April.
The third season of Ted Lasso is expected to be the final season of the show, as per an EW report which quotes show writer Brett Goldstein saying “We are writing it like that, it was planned as three”. The end of the second season saw Nate leaving his position at the fictional AFC Richmond football club under Ted, to take up the position of head coach at rival club West Ham United. The image shows Ted and Nate facing off, presumably ahead of a match between the two clubs.
Further, Jennifer Garner will star in The Last Thing He Told Me (coming April), a mystery-thriller based on the 2021 book of the same name by Laura Dave. The series revolves around Hannah (Jennifer Garner), a woman who must form a relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter Bailey (Angourie Rice) in order to find the truth about the mysterious disappearance of her husband.
The series slate also includes Hello Tomorrow! (coming February 17) starring Billy Crudup as a salesman for lunar timeshares, Shrinking (January 27) starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, and Shape Island (coming January 20), a stop-motion animation show for younger viewers and families featuring narration by Yvette Nicole Brown.
Apple TV+ original series releases in early 2023
Here is the full list of original series coming to Apple TV+ in early 2023.
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Truth Be Told season 3 - January 20
Shape Island - January 20
Shrinking - January 27
Dear Edward - February 3
Hello Tomorrow! - February 17
Liaison - February 24
The Reluctant Traveler - February 24
Extrapolations - March 17
My Kind of Country - March 24
Schmigadoon! Season 2 - April 7
The Last Thing He Told Me - April 14
Jane - April 14
The Afterparty season 2 - April 28
City on Fire - May 12
Swagger season 2 - June 2023
Ted Lasso season 3 - Spring 2023
The Big Door Prize - Spring 2023
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Apple TV+ Original Series Slate for Early 2023 Announced: Ted Lasso Returns for Third Season

Apple has announced the launch of its second-gen HomePod smart speaker, nearly two years after discontinuing its predecessor. The new HomePod has a slightly refined design and promises incredible audio quality. It can reproduce tracks encoded with spatial audio as well as integrate with compatible smart home products thanks to Apple's Siri voice-based personal assistant and S7 processor. It is available in White and a new Midnight colour option. The second-gen HomePod is priced at Rs. 32,900 in India and is available to pre order right away through official Apple retailers. It will go on sale from February 3.
In terms of sound quality, Apple says it has engineered the HomePod's custom high-excursion woofer to deliver remarkable bass. An array of five tweeters around the circumference of the device allows for immersive audio. Built-in sensors and an EQ microphone, plus Apple's in-house S7 processor, make it possible for the HomePod to perform its own computational operations to maximise its potential, according to Apple. The device can recognise sound reflections and adjust itself based on how it is positioned in a room. Beamforming is used to direct ambient audio and deliver spatial audio experiences.
Like its predecessor and the smaller HomePod mini (Review), the new HomePod has a mesh exterior which Apple says is made of 100 percent recycled fabric. The backlit touch surface on the top of its cylindrical body can be used to activate the Siri voice assistant.
The HomePod can also be used as an in-home intercom system to broadcast messages. Two HomePods can be set up as a stereo pair, or multiple units throughout a home can be synchronised, and users can hand off whatever's playing on an iPhone to the nearest speaker. When set up with an Apple TV, one or more HomePod speakers can take over all audio output and also let users control what's playing with voice commands.
The second-gen HomePod is capable of listening for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and can notify users on their iPhones when they are away. Integrated temperature and humidity sensors allow for smart home routine integrations such as toggling appliances based on environmental conditions. The Matter standard for smart home integration should allow for better interoperability with a wide range of IoT products and accessories.
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Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) Launched in India, Priced at Rs. 32,900

Redmi A1 was launched in India in September 2022, a month before the Redmi A1+ made its debut in the country. The devices appeared quite similar feature similar specifications. They aim to offer the barebones Android smartphone experience, are powered by the MediaTek Helio A22 SoC and run Android 12 (Go edition) out of the box. A report has claimed that the Redmi A1 could be getting an upgrade sooner than expected, after a new handset was spotted at a certification website.
According to a Xiaomiui report, a new budget Redmi device has surfaced on the US FCC certification website. The new Redmi handset has the model number 23026RN54G and the certificate clearly mentions that the change between the new model and the older one (220733SL) is the platform, which has moved from a MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) to a MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765X). This indicates that the Redmi A1 could soon be getting an update with a more powerful MediaTek Helio P35 processor.
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G Review: A Strong Overall Package
The report also states that this upcoming device is codenamed “water” and that it will run Android 13 out-of-the-box, citing data from the FCC. It also points out that the device will run the Android 13 (Go edition) which has already been readied for the upcoming device as MIUI V14.0.1.0.TGOMIXM.
The development of the Android 13 software for the handset also suggests that the smartphone could be announced soon. It's unclear whether this upcoming Redmi device (which is expected to debut as an upgraded version of the Redmi A1) will sport the same cosmetic design as the previous model.
The Xiaomi Redmi A1 was launched in India in September last year and is sold in a single 2GB RAM and 32GB storage option, priced at Rs. 6,499. This was followed by the debut of the Redmi A1+ a month later.
Android 13 (Go Edition) for Entry-Level Phones Announced
Apart from the base variant (priced at Rs. 6,999), the Redmi A1+ was offered in an 3GB RAM option that was priced at Rs. 7,999. Launched almost a month apart, both devices offered the same core hardware sporting a MediaTek Helio A22 processor, dual rear cameras and a selfie camera housed inside a water drop notch in the display. The Redmi A1+ offered a leather-textured polycarbonate rear panel.
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Redmi A1 Variant With MediaTek Helio P35 SoC Surfaces on US FCC Certification Website: Report

OnePlus Ace 2, the handset that is tipped to launch as the OnePlus 11R outside China, has been spotted on the company website, according to a report. The company recently unveiled the OnePlus 11 5G in China and it is reportedly gearing up to launch the OnePlus 11R. While the device has previously been spotted on several certification websites hinting at its imminent launch in India and other regions, the purported Chinese version of the OnePlus 11R has appeared on the company's website. The handset is tipped to feature a 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.
Tipster Mukul Sharma reports that the OnePlus Ace 2 has appeared on the company's website suggesting that it could be launched soon. The report does not specify whether the OnePlus Ace 2 was spotted on OnePlus' Chinese website or its Indian counterpart. The handset is tipped to debut in global markets as the OnePlus 11R 5G. However, the firm is yet to make any announcement regarding its plans to launch the OnePlus Ace 2 or the OnePlus 11R 5G, and whether they will have similar specifications
Previous reports have tipped the OnePlus Ace 2 and OnePlus 11R to feature similar specifications. The smartphones are likely to sport a 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. They are said to be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage under the hood. The company is also tipped to equip the handsets with a 5,000mAh battery along with 100W fast charging support.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Specifications Leaked Ahead of Launch
For optics, the handsets are said to feature a triple rear camera setup featuring a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 12-megapixel secondary camera, and a 2-megapixel tertiary camera. For selfies and videos, it could be equipped with a 16-megapixel camera located in a hole-punch cutout.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Leaked Live Images Showcase Design, Camera Details
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G Updated to Android 13 in India: Details
Meanwhile, the OnePlus Ace 2 was recently spotted on the China Quality Centre (CQC) regulatory website with model number OnePlus PHK110 whereas the rumoured OnePlus 11R is listed on BIS certification with a model number CPH2487. The latter is tipped to make its debut in India by April or May.
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OnePlus Ace 2 Spotted on Official Website; Could Launch as OnePlus 11R in India: Report

Amazon will cut some jobs in the United States, Canada, and Costa Rica by the end of Wednesday as part of its plan to lay off 18,000 employees, the e-commerce giant said in a memo to staff seen by Reuters.
The layoffs are the latest in the U.S. technology sector, with companies cutting their bloated workforce and slashing costs to reverse pandemic-era excesses and prepare for a worsening global economy.
The company is terminating 2,300 employees in Seattle and Bellevue, according to an update on the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) site. The U.S. labour law requires companies planning a mass layoff to inform employees 60 days before the closure.
Twitter to Lay Off 50 Workers in Product Division: Report
Amazon Chief Executive Andy Jassy said earlier this month the cuts, about 6 percent of the company's roughly 300,000 corporate employees, would mostly impact the e-commerce and human resources divisions.
According to a report earlier this month, tech companies shed more than 150,000 workers in 2022, contributing to a 649 percent surge in job cuts from 2021. Analysts say that Amazon's mass layoffs indicate that the wave of job cuts sweeping through the tech sector could stretch into 2023.
Microsoft said earlier on Wednesday it would cut about 10,000 jobs and take a $1.2-billion (roughly Rs. 9800 crore) charge. In a memo sent to staff and published online, CEO Satya Nadella outlined the economic conditions that are forcing "hard choices" such as this, but stated that Microsoft will continue to invest in "strategic areas" for its future. Employees affected by the retrenchment drive will be notified immediately, however, the process is expected to be complete only by the third quarter 2023.
Microsoft Announces Up to 10,000 Job Cuts
© Thomson Reuters 2023
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Amazon to Cut Jobs in US, Canada, Costa Rica as Part of Mass Layoffs

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has announced up to 10,000 job cuts, with notices going out to affected employees as early as today. In a memo circulated to staff and published online, Nadella outlined the economic conditions that were forcing "hard choices" such as this, but stated that Microsoft would continue to invest in "strategic areas" for its future. The total number of employees to be laid off represent less than five percent of Microsoft's total workforce, according to Nadella.
The layoffs were anticipated, with rumours leaking earlier today. As per reports, Microsoft had 221,000 employees as of June 2022, with 99,000 of those outside the US. Other large tech companies including Twitter, Amazon, and Meta have also laid off significant numbers of employees recently thanks to a global economic downturn.
In the company-wide memo, Nadella cited reduced consumer spending as the COVID-19 pandemic has become less severe, and the fact that many parts of the world are facing economic recession. The layoffs are necessary to align cost structures with projected revenue, and Microsoft will continue to hire new resources where needed. While some affected employees will be notified immediately, the process is expected to be complete only by Q3 2023.
Promising to treat all employees "with dignity and respect", and act transparently, Nadella committed to helping those laid off in terms of adequate notice periods, career transition services, continuing employment benefits, above-market severance pay, and stock option vesting, in accordance with laws and regulations in various countries. The cost of severance as well as consolidating leased office space is expected to be $1.2 billion (roughly Rs. 9,758 crore) this year. It was not immediately clear how many of the affected employees are in the US and how many work in other locations.
Even through this process, Microsoft says it will continue investing its money and people in key strategic areas for future growth, which are likely to involve AI. The memo ends with Nadella thanking all Microsoft employees for their dedication and resilience, but includes a warning that everyone must perform better for the company to thrive.
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Microsoft Announces Up to 10,000 Job Cuts, to Invest in Strategic Areas to Remain Competitive

A neon Twitter bird for $35,000 (roughly Rs. 2,848,000), anyone? How about a used industrial kitchen mixer for a good price? Going once ....
When Elon Musk wants to make a point, it can be pretty blunt. On the day he took over Twitter last fall, he walked in to the San Francisco company's headquarters carrying a sink. He tweeted “let that sink in.” Get it?
After slashing the company's workforce, falling behind on rent and contract obligations, Twitter under the mercurial billionaire is now auctioning off memorabilia, fancy office furniture and professional kitchen equipment from its San Francisco offices, where large swaths now sit empty and free meals are a relic of the past.
Twitter to Lay Off 50 Workers in Product Division: Report
With the auction, Musk's message is twofold: call attention to the perceived excesses of Twitter's previous administration while signalling that cost-cutting — at all costs — is a top priority.
The items fetching the highest bids, besides the neon bird, include a plain Twitter bird statue at over $30,000 (roughly Rs. 2,441,100) and a planter sculpture of the “@” symbol. Professional kitchen equipment, meanwhile, is going for tens of thousands of dollars. These include a commercial dehydrator, a fryer and a La Marzocco Strada semi-automatic espresso machine, which retails for around $25,000 (roughly Rs. 2,034,300) (the top bid as of Wednesday morning was $12,000 (roughly Rs. 976,400)).
Even when all added up, the money raised from the auction, which closes Wednesday, is unlikely to make a dent in Twitter's financial obligations.
You Can Now Get an Annual Twitter Blue Subscription in These Countries
Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion (roughly Rs. 3,58,000 crore) in October and the company is on the hook for about $1 billion (roughly Rs. 8100 crore) a year in interest payments from the deal. Most of Musk's wealth is tied to his ownership of Tesla shares, which have lost more than 40 percent of their value since he took ownership of Twitter in late October. He sold nearly $23 billion (roughly Rs. 1,87,100 crore) worth of the electric vehicle company's stock to fund the purchase since April, when he started building a position in Twitter. He's even lost the top spot for the world's wealthiest person, according to Forbes.
Twitter, which no longer has a media relations department, did not immediately respond to a message for comment Wednesday.
Musk defended his extreme cost-cutting measures in December in a late-night Twitter Spaces call.
Twitter Says It Blocked Third-Party Apps Broke
“This company is like, basically, you're in a plane that is headed towards the ground at high speed with the engines on fire and the controls don't work,” Musk said on December 21.
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Elon Musk Auctions Off Neon Twitter Bird Sign for $35,000, Puts Office Furniture, Twitter Memorabilia on Sale

The government will not permit social media platforms to host any information that it identifies as false, according to a draft proposal of new IT rules released this week.
This is the latest in a slew of measures by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government that are being seen as efforts to rein in big tech firms.
Any information identified as "fake or false" by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), or by any other agency authorised for fact-checking by the government or "by its department in which such business is transacted", would be prohibited under the draft.
Six YouTube Channels Exposed for Spreading False Information, PIB Tweets
Once information was identified as such, social media platforms or other "online intermediaries" would have to "make reasonable efforts" to ensure users do not "host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share" such information, it added.
In October, the government announced a panel would be set up to hear complaints from users regarding content moderation decisions of social media firms, which are already required to appoint in-house grievance redressal officers and executives to co-ordinate with law enforcement officials.
The government has also repeatedly been involved in tussles with various platforms when they failed to heed demands that certain content or accounts be taken down for allegedly spreading misinformation.
Twitter Plea Against Government's Takedown Orders Adjourned by High Court
Last month, Indian government blocked 104 YouTube channels, 45 videos, four Facebook accounts, three Instagram accounts, five Twitter handles and six websites have been blocked for spreading misinformation and threatening national security. Union Minister Anurag Thakur had then said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), under the provisions of Part-II of the IT Rules, had issued directions to block 1,643 user-generated URLs, including webpages, websites, posts and accounts on social media platforms from 2021 to October 2022.
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WhatsApp has reportedly begun rolling out a new feature for select Android beta testers that allows them to exchange voice notes as status updates. The feature lets you share voice status updates “with a certain audience configured within your privacy settings,” according to a feature tracker. The new feature is available within the text status section for select users on the beta channel. These voice status updates, like video, photo, and text updates, will also disappear after 24 hours.
According to a report by feature tracker WABetaInfo, select beta testers who have updated to version 2.23.2.8 can now post voice notes as WhatsApp Status updates. The WhatsApp feature and update tracker website notes that the feature is visible within the text status section, and adds that the maximum recording time for a voice status update is 30 seconds. Users can also discard a recording before re-recording and sharing it.
As with other status updates, voice notes are also protected by end-to-end encryption (E2EE). Users can also choose who can see their Status within their privacy settings. Similarly, like video, photo, and text status updates, voice statuses will also disappear after 24 hours. The WABetaInfo report added that the feature is likely to be available to more users in the coming weeks.
WhatsApp May Soon Let You Block People With a Single Tap
WhatsApp is also reportedly working on a feature to better deal with spam messages. The Meta-owned messaging service was found testing a feature that enables users to block people who are not in their contact list, directly from the notification bar. With this feature, users will eventually be able to block unfamiliar and unreliable contacts without having to open the chat.
WhatsApp Beta for Android Is Testing a Report Status Update Feature
How WhatsApp Could Soon Let You 'Keep' Disappearing Chats
WhatsApp message notifications currently have two options: reply and mark as read. The upcoming feature will offer users a third option: Block, which will be available only for messages received from unknown senders, according to the feature tracker.
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WhatsApp Rolling Out Feature to Share Voice Messages as Status Updates to Android Beta Testers: Report

The MiCA legislation, which is set to bind the crypto and digital assets industry in a solid framework for all members of the European Union (EU), will be tabled for final voting later this year. The reason behind this delay is that the 400-page document needs to be translated into 24 official languages. It could take up to 18 months for the European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Banking Authority to draft technical standards for the MiCA law.
“MiCA is tabled to be voted by the plenary in April, and to my knowledge, the delay is technical, caused by translating issues,” a CryptoPotato report quoted people familiar with the matter as saying.
The Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework largely revolves around consumer protection and prevention of market manipulation and financial crimes in the crypto sector.
Why Coinbase Has Decided to Halt Operations in Japan
The MiCA bill is aimed at preventing insider dealing, unlawful disclosure of inside information, and market manipulation related to crypto-assets from happening.
In October last year, the European Parliament Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) approved the MiCA legislation.
Wieder einen Schritt weiter…Das Ergebnis der Trilog-Verhandlung zu #MiCA wurde vom ECON-Ausschuss angenommen. Gute Nachrichten :+1::skin-tone-3: https://t.co/z73pkZMYvO
— Stefan Berger (@DrStefanBerger) October 10, 2022
In addition to the postponement in MiCA enforcement, the Transfer of funds Regulation (TFR) will also now be tabled before the EU parliament in April. The TFR rule will mandate all crypto players to religiously collect KYC details of both senders and receivers.
The MiCA rule is one of the most comprehensive set of crypto rules formulated so far that will be implemented across multiple nations.
BIS Proposes These Three Crypto Rules for Immediate Consideration
Crypto transactions are largely anonymous and can process instant cross-border payments without the intervention of any broker or centralised body. Governments around the world are concerned that cryptocurrency usage could destabilise existing financial workings and give an easy out for criminals to launder money and participate in other illicit activities.
Following the EU, now members of the G20 nations under India's presidency, are working on drafting crypto regulations that would work on an international level. Before the MiCA laws goes live somewhere around 2024-2025, member nations of the EU have begun releasing crypto tax laws and inviting crypto players to operate from within their territories.
PayPal, for instance, entered the EU by offering crypto-related services in Luxembourg starting December 2022.
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MiCA Crypto Law for EU Members Delayed by Up to 18 Months: All Details

Apple is working on a slate of devices aimed at challenging Amazon and Google in the smart-home market, including new displays and a faster TV set-top box, after relaunching its larger HomePod speaker. The push into smart displays will start with a tablet product — essentially a low-end iPad — that can control things like thermostats and lights, show video and handle FaceTime chats, people with knowledge of the plans said. The product could be mounted on walls or elsewhere using magnetic fasteners, positioning it as more of a home gadget than a regular iPad. Apple has also discussed the idea of building larger smart-home displays, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.
While the iPad already has smart-home features, standalone smart-home devices — often designed as countertop or wall-mounted appliances — have grown increasingly popular. Amazon sells a line of Echo Show products with displays, while Google offers its Nest Hub. And the latter company — part of Alphabet — is readying a Pixel Tablet with an optional stand. Apple also has discussed creating a home stand for its current iPads.
The Cupertino, California-based technology giant has struggled in the home space and has ceded much of the market to its rivals. Its current devices remain limited in their functionality, with Apple's Siri voice-control service lagging behind Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant. The new devices — along with upcoming changes to Siri — are aimed at turning around Apple's fortunes.
Why Spotify, Other Media Firms Want the EU to Take Action Against Apple
A representative for Apple declined to comment.
Earlier Wednesday, Apple rolled out the new HomePod speaker. The $299 (roughly Rs. 24,300) device is revamped version of the original, running the same chip as last year's Apple Watch. It has an updated media panel on the top and a new sensor for determining the temperature inside of a user's home. Bloomberg reported that the new speaker was imminent earlier this year. The temperature monitor first appeared in the HomePod mini in 2021, though it wasn't yet functional at the time.
Apple Launches HomePod Speaker In Stores
The original HomePod was discontinued in 2021 after mediocre sales, with customers balking at the price and limited functionality. It initially launched at $349 (roughly Rs. 28,400) before a price cut — a rare move for Apple — took it down to $299 (roughly Rs. 24,300). Apple introduced a $99 (roughly Rs. 8,000) HomePod mini in 2020 that has proven to be more popular, taking about 13 percent of the smart-speaker market, according to Strategy Analytics.
You Can Now Get an Annual Twitter Blue Subscription in These Countries
As part of its pursuit of smart-home customers, Apple has agreed to support the new Matter protocol, which lets rival gadgets work together. The company also recently redesigned the Home app that helps control its devices.
Beyond the future smart displays and new speaker, Apple is working on revamping its TV box. A new version with the current design is in the works for the first half of next year with a faster processor, the people said.
Apple last updated its TV device in October, giving it the iPhone 14's A15 chip and a remote control that uses the USB-C standard. Despite regular efforts to improve the product, the Apple TV box has made limited headway in the market. It holds only a 5 percent share, according to Insider Intelligence, compared with 30 percent for Amazon and 28 percent for Roku.
Apple HomePod (2nd Gen) Launched in India: See Price Here
While the new version will support an upgraded chip, it likely won't support 8K video streaming, a still nascent video format.
Work on a long-anticipated product that would combine the TV box with a smart speaker and FaceTime camera also has suffered setbacks, though that project is still ongoing. The device was initially targeted for release this year, but the timing has slipped. Likewise, the smart displays have seen their development schedules delayed and likely won't launch until next year at the earliest.
© 2023 Bloomberg LP
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